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Small Problems
Day Five, Part One: The New Grimlock
He lifted his head as the sun spilled over the New York skyscrapers like the warm kiss of a goddess. It was one more night he had lived through. One more nightmare of darkness and shadows survived. Which now meant one more day completely alone.
Optimus Prime crawled out of his hiding place and stowed the energy blaster he had been clutching through the night. It had been a long time since he had nights like these: hiding from the shadows, being hunted mercilessly by the enemy. It had been a very long time since he had been by himself for so long.
Five days. Five days of running from Decepticon trackers by night and searching fruitlessly for his missing team by day. If the others had already been found, he had no way of knowing. Megatron would hunt him down even if he was the last one.
Also, for the first time in a while, Optimus had no idea what to do. Without knowledge of the whereabouts of his team, he was finding it difficult to make a decision. He had forgotten how much he relied on his officers to formulate his strategies. He no longer had Ironhide to insist on the bold, direct approach; Prowl to offer the prudent route; and Jazz to put it all in lighthearted perspective.
Without them, Optimus Prime was finding himself regrettably lacking in a plan. His constant searching and running was also depleting his energy reserves. As much as he felt now would be an expedient time to leave the city and attempt to contact any other Autobots that may be looking for him, he just couldn't bring himself to abandon his team.
Without anyone else to tell him to do otherwise, Optimus Prime stuck to his gut. Though tired, he started off again in search of his team; in search of his friends.
Ironhide surveyed the scene, hands on his hip.
"Okay, so how do we do this?"
"Hey man, let her sleep," Blaster said in a hushed tone. "Wait for Prowl or Jazz to-"
Ironhide was already climbing up on the couch where Crystal has fallen asleep only a few hours earlier. "Well Prowl and Jazz aren't here right now and we need this little Autobot locator to find Prime." He perched on the arm rest over her head.
"What you doing?" Grimlock asked as he came into the room in dinosaur mode.
"We gotta get this gal up and look fer Prime," Ironhide said as he patted Crystal's cheek.
"Hm. Not good idea for Ironhide to do that," Grimlock surveyed.
"Well why not?" Ironhide demanded. "I-"
Crystal suddenly grabbed him, rolling over to face the back of the couch. Ironhide made a sound of surprise before the girl's arm locked him in place.
"Me Grimlock warn you."
"What on Cybertron–Wheeljack! Help me outta this!" Ironhide struggled to get free, but he was in a position that didn't allow him much leverage.
Wheeljack shook the human by her shoulder. "Hey, come on. Time to wake up."
With one arm still around Ironhide, Crystal reached out her free arm and tapped Wheeljack on the head as if hitting the snooze button on an alarm.
"It's too early, Blinky Head. Just a while longer..." She rolled back over, snuggling up to Ironhide.
Prowl and Jazz walked in just in time to hear Wheeljack protest.
"My name is not Blinky Head and I am NOT your alarm clock!"
"Prowl, Jazz," Ironhide called as he squirmed. "Tell her ta let go 'a me. She don't look it, but she's got a grip of steel!"
Prowl looked thoughtful, wondering if it was too soon to bother her. Grimlock poked his snout at the small of Crystal's back where her shirt had slid, showing her waist line.
"It wrong color," the Dinobot complained.
Unsure of what he meant, Prowl ventured to pull the shirt up a bit more. The skin on her back was now a sickly green color and further up, it darkened into deep purple bruises. This damage came from the incident the day before when she had been slammed against those metal pillars.
"I think I'm gonna have to pay Rumble back for this," Jazz growled lowly.
Prowl inspected the bruising in fascination. He had never seen human injuries up close like this before. He lightly touched a purple spot and then slowly pressed in.
Crystal sucked in a breath, suddenly sitting up, hair all over her face. Ironhide scrambled away while he had his chance. The girl looked around her, still disoriented from sleep.
"What?" she asked in a scratchy voice.
"Your back is all dinged up," Jazz said. "Does it hurt?"
Crystal shifted her shoulders and groaned. "I can feel it." She tried to look down the back of her shirt over the shoulder, but it was near impossible to see the damage. So she turned and revealed her back to the Autobots.
"How does it look?"
"Colorful," Jazz said. "Kinda green and purple."
"How purple?" Crystal sighed.
"Eh..." Jazz tipped his hand in a so-so gesture.
"Is the skin broken anywhere?"
Prowl inspected closer. "I believe it's intact."
"Good. I should be okay for tonight then." Crystal shifted and made a face. Everything in her head felt like it was starting to clog up. She hoped she wasn't getting sick from being out in the rain.
"Okay, I'm going to get dressed." She stood and went to her room before Prowl could ask what their plans were for the day. Instead of dressing, however, Crystal plopped on her bed and fell back asleep.
"Ratchet."
Poke. Poke.
"Hey. Hey Ratchet!"
Ratchet came online with a start, almost falling out of his chair. It took him a moment to focus his optics on the yellow and blue blobs standing over him. Sunstreaker and Tracks.
"Woah, you look awful," the former said. "How long have you been sitting here at the control center?"
Ratchet groaned as he straightened his back with a few metallic pops. "Since I sent your brother and some others off to New York City after Prime's team. That was..." He checked his chronometer. "Two days ago."
"Lucky dogs," Tracks put in. "New York is my town."
"What about Prime and those guys?" Sunstreaker asked. "Still nothing from them?"
Ratchet sunk back into his seat, staring at the ceiling. "I wish. That place is turning into a veritable black hole. Bots go in, but they're not coming out." He paused. "Where is the rest of your team?"
"Probably still in the Middle East somewhere," Sunstreaker shrugged.
"Don't expect them any time soon," Tracks added. "There's a war going on over there. Getting through customs, even for Autobots, is complete murder."
"Then how did you two make it back?" Ratchet asked, his face suspicious.
"It's all business, my friend," Tracks answered with a confident smile. "Do some favors for the right people and you can make things happen. Before we knew it, we were on a plane headed stateside."
Ratchet sighed. "I don't even want to know what you two had to do for that."
"I couldn't stand it there any longer," Sunstreaker said. "With all the sand in my gears and the dry heat, and then the ocean air stripping my paint."
"Not to mention all the insects in my grill from about four different countries," Tracks piped in. "It took me almost an hour to clean it out."
"I soaked in solution for at least two."
Ratchet, who had been listening to their complaints with mild interest, suddenly stiffened. "Wait a minute. You two have been here for a while?!"
Tracks returned his angry glare with a mild look. "About half a day, yes."
Ratchet boiled, too outraged to form words.
"Hey," Sunstreaker announced, oblivious. "Let's head on over to New York ourselves and see what's going on. If we missed all the hard stuff, we can just stay and see the sights."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Tracks agreed as they both turned their back on Ratchet's fury. "I have friends there I haven't seen in ages. I'd love for you to meet them."
In his irritation, Ratchet reached for the first tool he could get his hands on and flung it at the two retreating Autobots. It ricocheted off Tracks's back with a loud twang. Tracks stiffened as Sunstreaker gasped loudly, his hands covering his mouth.
Tracks clenched his shaking fists. "Ratchet, you didn't just..."
"Now hold on, hold on," Sunstreaker said in that tone one uses to talk down terrorists. "Let me inspect the damage." He carefully looked over where the offending object had impacted. "Oh, that's just a small ding. I can easily buff that out before we go. Come on."
Sunstreaker herded him out the door, knowing full well Tracks would not win if he chose to take on Ratchet that day. The medical officer just sighed when they left and plopped back in his chair, rubbing his face tiredly.
"Primus, let this nightmare be over soon."
"O-oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light?"
Out on the balcony, Crystal greeted the mid morning sun by placing a hand on her heart and singing to the American flag that was hanging on the balcony.
"What so proudly we hail at the twilight's last gleaming."
"Who's broad stripes and s–bright stars," Jazz fumbled to sing with her. "Over something and fight. What the... something we watched. And I don't know the words."
Grimlock chimed in, obviously not knowing the words either and just singing what he felt like.
"And me Grimlock is king! O-ver everything! And me Grimlock is king! Bow to Grimlock, he king!"
Prowl stood with them, right hand on his chest in silent dignity as Crystal led them to the end.
"O~oh say does that start spangled banne-er yet wa-ave?"
"Oh, I know this part!" Jazz chimed in more confident. "O're the la-and of the free and the home of the brave! Play ball!"
Crystal laughed. "Play ball isn't part of the national anthem."
"It's not?" Jazz demanded.
"Uh, no. But happy Fourth of July you guys."
From inside, Ironhide snorted. "That girl's got them all wrapped around her little finger. It's disgusting."
Wheeljack just shook his head and continued to watch the Discovery Chanel.
"What mean this Fourth of July?" Grimlock asked as they came inside. "Why it big deal?"
"It's our Independence Day, Grim. It's a very big deal," Crystal insisted. "Many people died so we could live here, free to make our own decisions. Weren't you built over in Oregon?"
"Yes. Me Grimlock built on Earth."
"More importantly, built in the US," Crystal corrected. "That makes you an American citizen. You should learn your country's history."
Grimlock looked thoughtful.
"Don't go putting ideas into his head," Wheeljack warned.
"Yeah, they'll get awfully lonely without anything else in there," Ironhide put in with a smirk.
"So where are we looking today?" Jazz asked the human as she sat herself on the floor.
"It's up to you," she replied as she went about doing a series of stretches. It was obvious from her tone she wasn't planning on joining them.
"But," Jazz argued. "But, but, but how are we gonna know where to look?"
"You know better than I do where to look." She winced as she stretched the muscles in her back.
"But you're always the one who finds them somehow. I don't think we can do it without you."
Crystal sighed. "I think you're exaggerating now, Four. I don't have any extra Autobot locating powers."
"Me Grimlock beg to differ," the Dinobot snorted.
Crystal ignored him. "You guys will do just fine. Look how many you have now to help you."
Prowl nodded. He was happy to keep her out of the danger of their affairs. He already had plans in his head.
"So you're not going to help us at all now?" Wheeljack asked.
"Oh, I'm helping," Crystal insisted. "If all goes well tonight, we'll have a vehicle and we can be out of here by tomorrow morning. I also took Monday and Tuesday off. Even if I can't go all the way to Oregon, I'll at least get you far enough that it will be safe to contact someone. How's that for helping?"
"You said something about getting a car fixed, right?"
"Oh the car is fixed. The mechanic is just waiting to be paid. And I'll have the money if I can win this fight tonight."
Prowl paused in his mental planning, unsure if he heard correctly.
"Did you say fight?"
The engine of the yellow Lamborghini rumbled with impatience at the miles of cars ahead of him going at a turtle's pace.
"What a time to close a lane for construction," Sunstreaker grumbled over the radio. "I hate this."
"Well, it's a weekend and a holiday to boot," Tracks responded in a cool tone. "What did you expect, Sunstreaker? Just relax and enjoy the ride."
Sunstreaker's engine rumbled again. He was restless. "I don't know what it is, Tracks, but as soon as we got on the road I haven't been able to shake the feeling that I need to get out there as soon as possible. I know my brother's in good company, but I'm still worried. I love the guy but, well, he's an idiot."
"No, Sideswipe is still an Autobot. He knows how to take care of himself. And we both know he's smarter than he lets on."
"I guess..." Sunstreaker relented, though he sounded hardly pacified.
"Hey, Tracks?"
"Yes."
"You know... you can get out there faster than I can..."
"I said yes, Sunstreaker."
The yellow Autobot chuckled. "Thanks. I owe you one."
"I'll hold you to that." A pair of wings grew out from under the blue Corvette which promptly took off into the air, startling a few bored motorists.
Sunstreaker watched him go, only feeling slightly better. He couldn't shake this suspicion that something was in motion. Something was happening far away from him, he could feel it. And it felt like he needed to be there. Sunstreaker just hoped he would get there in time.
"It's about time someone came to get me," Skyfire demanded. "It's been almost five days of radio silence! What's been going on?"
"We came as soon as we could, Skyfire," Bluestreak assured him as he pulled off the foliage that had been covering the large jet. "All the Decepticon attacks spread us so thin, we're looking kind of pathetic."
"Is it just me or is Megatron getting smarter?" Sideswipe asked. He hunched over the jet, up to his elbows in Skyfire's inner workings while Ratchet guided him over the radio.
"He must have finally realized getting dumber wasn't working," Brawn quipped.
From the sky, Swoop flew down and perched on the jet's back. "Skyfire damaged?" he asked with the curiosity of a child asking about another's injury. "You no fly?"
"No Swoop. Not today. I'm grounded."
"You're lucky the Decepticons haven't found you all this time," Brawn said.
"Yeah, I am," Skyfire retorted in an accusing tone.
"Have you heard anything from Prime or Prowl or anyone?" Bluestreak asked.
"Nothing. Prime insisted on absolute radio silence before he left so I wouldn't be found. So you mean to say you haven't heard from them either?"
"Not a peep," Brawn confirmed. "According to Ratchet, that was Prime's last radio communication. We have no idea what happened to his team. All we do know is that the Decepticons are still lurking somewhere in the city. So that's where we're going to look."
"Okay Ratchet, I see it," Sideswipe said over the radio. He fiddled a bit with the components and then stood back. "Okay Skyfire, try it now.
The jet transformed with a sigh of relief. "That feels so much better," he said as he stretched. "Unfortunately, my engines are still in bad shape."
"Ratchet says it's a bit too complicated to try to repair over the radio. We're going to have to get you back to the Ark."
Skyfire paused. "Any specific reason you had to bring the Dinobots with you?"
Brawn frowned. "Ratchet in his infinite wisdom insisted they come and– Snarl is heading for the freeway! Sideswipe, stop him!"
"On it, boss!" Sideswipe ran off with alacrity.
"And figure out some way to control them while you're at it!"
"This doesn't look good, does it?" Skyfire said.
"No, it doesn't," Brawn admitted with fatigue. "Megatron has made all of us look like chumps and there's nothing I can do about it."
"You should go to the city and leave me here. I'll be fine."
Brawn shook his head. "No. I should get you back to base. We may need you to start shuttling Autobots out here as fast as possible." He looked toward the city. "If it were any other team missing I'd be worried. But whatever happened to them, they can handle it." He then gazed dubiously in Sideswipe's direction. The red Autobot was blocking Snarl's path like a soccer goalie. "It's these yahoos I'm worried about. But unfortunately, I'm the only one who has the power to haul you back to base. Primus help them. That's all I can say."
"They'll be fine, Brawn."
"If anything, maybe they'll at least stir up enough activity so we can figure out what's going on." Brawn turned to Bluestreak.
"I'm taking Skyfire back in the trailer. While I'm gone, you're in charge."
Bluestreak's optics grew to almost twice their size. "Me?!"
Brawn clapped him on the shoulder as Sludge trundled by, nearly missing them both with his massive tail. "Good luck, kid. You're going to need it."
Bluestreak still looked a bit shell shocked even as Brawn hitched himself to the full trailer and pulled away. He turned his attention to the distance where the Dinobots were milling around with Sideswipe in the midst of them.
"So Brawn's gone. Now we can get it done my way," Sideswipe said as Bluestreak approached.
"Actually," Bluestreak said in a small voice. "Um, Brawn kind of left me in-"
"Dinobots! Listen up!" Sideswipe announced, blowing off Bluestreak completely. "We're going to infiltrate the city right under Megatron's nose and I have a plan!"
To their credit, the Dinobots actually did stop and take note of him, which was more courtesy than they had ever given Brawn. The moment, however, was short lived and they started off on their own again.
"Maybe we should..." Blustreak started to suggest.
"Hey! Hey!" Sideswipe took off after them. "Where do you think you're going? I'm in charge now!"
"Red car bot not in charge of Dinobots," Slag announced.
"Dinobots only listen to leader Grimlock," Snarl added.
"Well then," Sideswipe said as he ran in front of them. "You will listen to me now because I am the new Grimlock!"
The Dinobots froze. It was clear they were trying to process this new information. It took them almost two minutes to do so.
"New Grimlock?" Sludge finally asked.
"There only one Grimlock," Swoop insisted. "Sideswipe cannot be Grimlock, too."
"Why not?" Sideswipe argued. "Do you see any other Grimlocks here? Why can't it be me?"
The Dinobots thought about it some more.
"You not Dinobot!" Slag told him. "Only Dinobots lead Dinobots! You think you like us?" He transformed into his impressive robot mode which was much taller than the already quite tall Lamborghini. "You want to be Dinobot leader? Fight Slag for it!"
Sideswipe looked thoughtful at the challenge while Bluestreak was near panic.
"Sideswipe, you can't fight him! There's a reason his name is Slag!"
Once again, he was ignored.
"And if you did win, Slag, then what?" Sideswipe asked. "I'm sure you most certainly know where Grimlock is?"
"Hnn..."
"Well then, you must at least have a plan on how to look for him."
"Uh..."
"Not to mention getting all of you into the city limits without being noticed."
Slag paused. "We follow New Grimlock only until Dinobots find Old Grimlock."
Bluestreak was dumbstruck. Sideswipe's golden tongue had gotten him his way again.
"Excellent," the red Autobot said, rubbing his hands in excitement. "Here is what we are going to do."
Prowl was at a crossroads. Very few things took prerogative over what his logic circuits told him. But when his protective side began to work, he found himself conflicted. He sat outside for a while, dangling his legs between the balcony rails and wrestling internally with himself.
Jazz watched him through the glass from where he was sitting on the couch. He found Prowl's personal conundrum more amusing than anything else.
Crystal came out of the small laundry room where Wheeljack was tinkering with Blaster some more. She had a fresh load of newly dried clothes and was extremely happy her jeans weren't going to feel like sand paper any more.
On her way to her room, she noticed a pair of blue optics peering out of the storage closet. That was Ironhide. Crystal felt a bit sorry for him. Apparently, while all his other comrades had been snug in her apartment for the past few days, he had been spending his time constantly running and fighting for his life. He had not been hurt, but Crystal could imagine it was probably quite mentally and physically taxing on the little red robot.
Jazz had assured her that while Autobots had to offline and recharge eventually, all of them could go for a few more days without the proper equipment. He explained how they had internal repair and recharging systems to help them keep going. These, of course, worked best when one had some quiet time just to sit and recharge. And if that was what Ironhide needed, Crystal was more than happy to let him hide in the closet for as long as he wished.
"So is he still sulking outside?" Crystal asked as she came back out and sat next to Jazz.
"Yeah. He's used to being in charge. Prowl doesn't do so well in situations where he's not in control. It sometimes makes him shut down for a bit."
"It sounds like he's just pouting." She got up and headed for the balcony door. "Going to
come in and join us?" she asked as she walked outside.
Prowl just frowned at the scenery.
"You know you're missing the Fourth of July parade. That might be a good opportunity to look around for your missing friend."
Still no response.
Crystal sat herself cross legged behind him. "Seriously, what is the problem? You're acting like a child."
The frown etched itself deeper onto Prowl's face. "I don't like you risking yourself like that for us. It isn't right."
"Oh please, don't flatter yourself," Crystal snorted. "I've been boxing for a few years. It's a sport, a hobby. I've been in the ring before, it's not like this is my first time. I was at gym every night preparing for this fight before I met you guys. I'm doing this for that fat winner's purse so I can pay the ransom to get my car out of the shop. Which, while it profits you as well, was my plan all along. I want my car back."
Prowl still didn't respond, but it was obvious he was processing the information.
Squeak. Squeak, squeak.
Prowl glared. She was playing with his door panels again. He didn't appreciate it when she grabbed the tips and flapped them.
"Soo..." Crystal urged with a smile. "Are you going to come watch me? Grimlock is."
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
Prowl shrugged his doors out of her grip. "I'm not going to go out there just to watch you get pummeled."
Crystal's mouth fell open in exaggerated offense. "You think I'm going to lose! Thanks a lot!"
"That's not what I meant."
Crystal stood and marched back inside. "Like I need your support anyway."
Prowl was quick to follow, staying right on her heels. "I didn't mean it like that. I just don't– Hey are you even listening to me?"
When she passed Jazz, Crystal threw him a sly grin before running off down the hall with Prowl after her. Getting Prowl away from his brooding had been her goal in the first place.
Jazz had to smile. It was entertaining seeing someone else give Prowl a run for his money for a change.
Dusk fell on New York Harbor. Strips of red and purples lingered on the horizon; the sun's last hurrah before disappearing completely for the night.
It was a messier, older part of the harbor. No large company freighters or union paid dock workers. Only a few rusted, independently owned fishing boats tied to moldy, creaky ports. Here the water looked different; thicker and churning with pollution and floating debris. Odd objects would often break the surface and then burble back down as they rose and ebbed with the tide.
From the depths of the murk, the water churned and something else broke the surface. Something with glowing blue optics and a mischievous grin. It moves toward the docks while more heads popped up in the water behind it.
Bluestreak plodded stiffly out of the bay, holding his arms away from his sides in disgust. If robots could look sick, Bluestreak would have been a bit green in the gills.
"This is one of the foulest things you have ever made me do," he said as he picked off bits of dripping wet garbage with distaste.
Sideswipe stepped out next, not minding the unspeakable filth hanging from his tall frame. In fact, he looked extremely pleased with himself; hands on hips and surveying the new playground splayed out before them in the dim light.
There were loud sucking sounds as the Dinobots stood out of the water. They too were oblivious to the clutter hanging from their forms.
"Me Swoop can't touch bottom!" The pteranodon squawked as he flapped around in the surf like the drowning pigeon.
Sludge grabbed Swoop's wing in his mouth and tossed him to the sand with a flick of his long neck.
"So what now?" Bluestreak asked, a rare frown on his face. He picked at a few more pieces of junk lodged in his hinges.
Sideswipe waved them on, a finger to his lips in request for silence. Or at least as much silence that could be mastered from bumbling, stumbling Dinobots. There were plenty of large stacks of cargo freights to hide behind which made Bluestreak feel only slightly safer. The Decepticons may not have known they were there, but they were still trespassing and running into security would certainly not help the mission.
Glancing behind him, the Dinobots seemed to not care either way. They were probably just glad to get out of the Ark for once.
Sideswipe led them all to a hanger with a padlock. It seemed to be the exact place he wanted to be for he took no time breaking the chain and ushering them all inside.
Bluestreak switched on his head lights as Sideswipe closed the hanger door behind them. It was massive. Even the Dinobots fit comfortably. As Bluestreak shined his lights around, he revealed strange, Earthly artifacts. Large, grinning cartoon faces, eerie remains of grand, colorful stages and structures decorated with ridiculously oversized flowers and shiny, plastic streamers.
"Sideswipe?" Bluestreak said as he backed away from the psychedelic nightmare. "What is this place?"
Sideswipe switched his lights on as well, summoning even more oddities from the gloom. "It's where they're storing floats from the parade this morning. We're going to use this stuff as part of my plan."
Right then, they went off. Those internal alarm systems that Prowl had time and again insisted Bluestreak should listen to more often. The same internal system Prowl also insisted Sideswipe didn't have. As Bluestreak looked at the grin on Sideswipe's face and the glint in his optics, his internal warning systems told him this would not end well.
Within the same city, though almost a world away, Ironhide was getting the same feeling. Prowl didn't like the arrangement at all, but his reasons weren't the same as Ironhide's.
To Prowl, it was more personal. Which was odd in and of itself. Prowl and personal didn't exactly go hand in hand. The black and white Autobot was usually all business. But he and Jazz had been with this human for a while and she had been there for them since the start. He felt the welfare of this human girl was their responsibility.
Ironhide agreed, but only as far was the Decepticons were concerned. When Crystal's match was first mentioned, he didn't see the problem with it. From his own past he understood the ring. He understood fighting as a sport. He even understood using that sport to get some extra cash when funds were low.
Most importantly, Ironhide understood that with these things, there was a thin line between a friendly sport and something potentially dangerous. To his expert optics, the warning signs were starting to show. That was when he began to agree with Prowl that this could be a bad idea.
To get "directions" for the location, Crystal left her entourage of Autbots to meet some shady looking guy standing on a street corner. When she returned to them saying she knew where to go now, Ironhide began to get suspicious.
As they neared the location, Crystal steered them around the back. At the back door, a burly looking guy was standing guard and Ironhide wouldn't stay quiet any longer.
"That's it, c'mere." He grabbed Crystal's hand, pulling her aside and tugged her down to his level. "You had to go get directions because ya didn't know until today where it was, am I right? That's cuz it moves around all the time so certain officials won't know where to find it."
Crystal smiled calmly, not denying it. "And your point?"
"Mah point is that this here set up ain't entirely legal, is it?"
Prowl was right there at the mention of illegal activities, listening in.
Crystal gave a little laugh as if he had said something cute. "Can't slip anything by you, can I? No, it's not entirely on the up and up, I'll admit. But it's cool, I promise. The guy who set me up with this was friends with my dad. He wouldn't let me go if it wasn't safe. They pay the fighters which is totally legal, but there are attending parties who like to bet on them which isn't so legal. But the fights are legit. No one's paid off to throw fights or anything so I'm actually on the safer side."
Ironhide didn't look too convinced. Neither did Prowl. But Crystal was already up and heading for the door.
"Name?" the burly man at the door asked.
"Crystal Carlisle. I'm fighting tonight."
He looked her up and down in a way she did not appreciate. Then his eyes wandered to her smaller companions. "Kids ain't allowed."
"They're not kids." Crystal bent down and picked up Wheeljack. "They're small robots, see? Aren't they cute?"
He raised a thick eyebrow at them. "Robots?"
"Yeah, they change into cars. Show him, Jazz."
Before Jazz could do anything, the back door opened and an older man stepped out.
"Crystal, there you are. I was wondering if I should go looking for you." He was of a heavy build, mostly muscle. He looked as though he had been a fighter himself in his younger days. Maybe still was.
"Hey, Don." Crystal greeted. "Nah, I found it fine."
Don paused, noticing the Autobots as well. "Wow, you really weren't kidding."
Crystal grinned. "Would I lie to you, Don?"
"Well you do like to keep me on my toes. Get in here. I gotta tell you what's going on."
Crystal saluted and marched inside.
"So that's yer fighter, huh?" the guard asked Don as they watched the Autobots all scuttle in.
"Uh, yeah," Done replied, not looking too thrilled with the robots either. He was about to say something else, but noticed what Jazz was carrying and followed in after him.
The guard stayed where he was outside. They were Don's problem now.
Inside was full of people, fighters and trainers talking loud and camped in every corner, waiting for the matches to begin.
"Crystal," Don called as he caught up to her, "why do one of those things have a large boom box? You're not planning any-"
"Chill, Don," Crystal assured him, "The boom box just wanted to watch, too."
Don stopped in his tracks. "The boom box wanted to– what does that even mean?" He hurried to catch up to her again, trying not to trip over Autobots along the way.
"Where can I change?" Crystal asked, oblivious to his problems.
Don grabbed her shoulder. "Hold on, kid. We gotta talk first."
Crystal furrowed her brows at his sudden sober tone and allowed him to lead her away for privacy. "What's up, Don?"
The older man rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I'm sorry kid, they've been rearranging the matches at the last minute and I'm afraid you're getting the shaft this time."
"What do you mean? Am I still fighting or what?"
He winced at her impatience. "Well, that's really up to you. They don't have anyone to fight you in your weight category, but I told them you needed the cash and asked what you could do."
Crystal sighed heavily, looking aggravated at the situation. "Fine. So what did they say?"
Prowl narrowed his optics trying to catch what the two humans were talking about. It was difficult to pick out the voices from all the other noise in the room.
"An exhibition match?!" Crystal's voice rose above the din. "Are they serious?"
"It will be the first match of the night," Don explained. "And-"
"And they just want to watch their star fighter wipe the floor with me," Crystal frowned.
Prowl tugged on her hand. "You don't have to get involved in an unfair fight just for the money," he informed her.
Crystal looked down in annoyance. "Nosy," she said as she picked him up and put a hand over his mouth so he could offer no further argument. "How much?"
"Just for doing it, they'll give you two hundred."
Crystal frowned again. "That's not enough. What if I win?"
"IF you win, they said they'll give you a thousand."
Crystal's eyes grew twice their size. She stumbled backwards into a chair, Prowl in her lap. "How long do I have to decide?"
"Ten minutes; maybe less." Don shifted, looking a bit guilty. "Sorry kid. I wish I could have done better. I'll give you some time to think about it."
As Don moved away, the Autobots came forward.
Ironhide climbed up to stand on the chair next to her and look her in the eye. "Ah told ya this place was shifty. Who they want ya ta fight?"
Crystal grabbed his chin and steered his face in the direction of the fighters warming up for their matches. "That woman right there."
Ironhide gawked. "That's a woman?!"
Crystal palmed his face. "Shush. Yes, it's a woman. Though they usually pit her against guys because they can't find girls anywhere near her size and weight."
Ironhide studied the fighter. "Does she usually win?"
"Yeah," Crystal said, her expression dropping.
"Then cancel," Prowl spoke up. "We'll find some other way."
"Then again," Ironhide cut in. "Ya never know you've really lost until you've given it a try."
"No," insisted Prowl. "It's not worth it."
"Every fighter has a weakness. Even you know that, Prowl. Ya got no faith in her."
Wheeljack elbowed Jazz. "You know what this reminds me of? You ever see those cartoons where the character has the good self and bad self fighting over a decision?"
Jazz grinned. "Oh yeah, the shoulder angel and devil." He looked at the white and red Autobots arguing. "I wonder which one she'll listen to."
"I'll do it!" Crystal announced as she stood, spilling Prowl off her lap in the process. "I came here to fight, damnit, and I'm going to fight with someone!"
Don ushered the Autobots, per Crystal's request, some place where they could see the match but not get in the way of the crowds. He showed them a ladder where they could climb up to a thin catwalk. There they were almost directly over the ring. Ironhide looked far too eager for the fight to begin and Prowl certainly didn't appreciate his lofty attitude ever since Crystal had agreed with him.
"I can't believe you're supporting this," Prowl berated. "What if she gets seriously hurt?"
"Nah, she's tough. This ain't her first fight, Prowl. She'll be fine. Ye'r just sore cuz she listened ta me and not you."
"Didn't you do this kind of stuff for a bit way back on Cybertron, Ironhide?" Blaster asked as Wheeljack angled him to see the match.
"Yup," Ironhide grinned a bit in reverie. "Back in the good old days."
"There's nothing good about watching two beings pummel each other for entertainment," Prowl shot back.
"Says you."
"Hey," Wheeljack spoke up. "Anyone see where Grimlock went?"
"Make sure it's really tight," Crystal instructed.
Jazz had finished braiding her long hair and now helped her pin the whole thing back in a bun.
"No sense giving her an extra way to get a hold of me."
"So you're really gonna do this, huh?" Jazz asked.
"Why not?" Crystal responded lightly as she checked the tape wrapped around her knuckles. "We all need to take a few stupid risks every now and then to make life interesting."
Jazz gave her a half grin. "You think you might win?"
The match was being announced and the crowd roared as the champion got in the ring. Crystal stood up and clapped her hand on the top of Jazz's helmet. "Well Little Four, we'll see if it was meant to be."
Her name was announced while Crystal steadily made her way up to the ring. She didn't get nearly as many cheers as her opponent did– even a few boos. But she expected it. This match wasn't about who would win, it was about how much her opponent could show off before Crystal couldn't take any more abuse. No one expected her to come out on top and she knew it. Even a part of her didn't expect it either.
This would indeed be the ultimate test. If she won this match, maybe there was a ghostly hand of fate guiding her after all.
The ring was a small cage which was closed and locked when both fighters were inside. Crystal sized up her opponent. Her name was Kat Slacovka. Crystal had seen her fight before, but never so close. Crystal certainly wasn't too short herself, but this woman still towered over her more in bulk than height, eying her like a tiger eyes easy prey.
The ref stepped in, checking the gloves and explaining the rules. There would be numerous rounds until a winner was locked in a hold, tapped out, or knocked out. Crystal knew if she had any chance of winning at all, it had to be done in round one. Though physically fit, she didn't have the stamina to go for an extended period of time against something with almost twice her strength. If she was going to make a move, it would have to be quick and precise.
The referee squared them off and started the match. Crystal instantly took a step back to stay out of Kat's long reach. Instead of attacking, however, Kat extended her glove, a show of sportsmanship. It surprised Crystal a bit. Maybe this woman didn't want to tear into her as badly as she had initially thought. Crystal moved forward, intent to tap her glove with her opponent's to begin the fight.
The moment she got close Kat took a swing at her with all her might. The crowed roared and jeered at the unsportsmanlike conduct. Crystal barely dodged the blow, but she felt the wind of that swing. Any direct blow from that fist, or if she got caught in any kind of lock, it would be all over. She would have to play this fast and smart.
The two female fighters circled each other. Every once in a while, Kat would swing but Crystal always stayed slightly out of reached.
From the catwalk, Prowl tensed as he watched the fight. "This whole thing is dirty. This isn't a fair match at all."
"In this business, Prowl, it's not about fair," Ironhide told him. "It's about entertainment. But that gal seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Look at her circle. She's looking for a weakness. It may be an interesting match yet."
Just as he spoke, Kat lunged forward in another vicious punch. This time, instead of dodging, Crystal grabbed the arm, holding it at an awkward angle and delivered a swift kick to her opponent's ribs. Kat stumbled back from surprise and Crystal quickly hopped a safe distance away again.
Jazz cheered from his place at the ringside. He still wasn't sure how she was going to win, but at least it was one good hit.
"I thought that kid looked familiar."
Jazz picked up a conversation near by. "I saw her old man fight in the ring years ago. Carlisle the Crusher they called him. The man was a genius in the ring. Probably would have gone pro if he hadn't joined the military. I wouldn't be surprised if she's picked up a few of his moves."
"Oh yeah?" the man he was talking to replied. "Maybe they should have let us bet on the fight after all."
In the ring Kat attacked again, swinging her fists, and once more Crystal dodged and aimed for her ribs. This time with her fists. But Kat didn't stumble like before. Despite the pain, the larger woman attacked. Crystal didn't get out of the way as fast and was clipped on the side of the head.
That was when the real fight began. By then, both had sized up their opponent. Crystal found Kat was slow and preferred boxing moves while Kat found Crystal relied on her speed to stay out of the way. Kat knew how to handle that kind of fighter– give them nowhere to run.
The crowd roared again as Kat charged, backing Crystal against the wall of the cage. Crystal side stepped to get free as Kat punched. But in the middle of her retreat, Kat swung around her second fist and nailed Crystal square in the back.
Crystal gasped as the air was knocked out of her and from the pain of the punch on yesterday's injuries. As she turned, she saw the glint in Kat's eyes. Kat knew she was injured there now. She was going to aim for it.
Kat charged again. Crystal knew she had to end this fight soon or she was going to lose. When Kat attacked, Crystal didn't run. She ducked after the first swing and punched low, hitting the ribs again. She got in three quick, consecutive jabs in the same spot and then punched with all her might right on Kat's chin.
Crystal shook her hand from the sting of the punch. Kat stumbled back, but didn't go down. In fact, she grinned. The punch had hardly phased her and Crystal's eyes grew wide when she realized how deep in trouble she really was. This woman was a brick wall.
Seeing her opponent's weakness, Kat pounced. Crystal backed into the wall to get away and Kat had her right where she wanted her. A well placed punch to the gut had Crystal gasping. As she scrambled to put some distance between them, Kat grabbed her braid which had come lose, pulling Crystal back and she slammed her smaller opponent into the side of the cage.
Instantly Kat was on her, pounding her fists into Crystal's back. The crowd was roaring while Crystal's world was spinning in pain. Jazz wanted to look away, but his optics were glued to the scene. The match, it seemed, was over.
Kat picked up the smaller woman, lifting Crystal above her head in an impressive feat of strength. The crowd jumped from their chairs screaming and cheering. Prowl readied himself to witness the finishing blow. He knew this had been a bad idea from the start.
Ironhide, however, jumped to his feet, grabbing Prowl's shoulder. He saw something in the ring no one else noticed.
Kat hurled her opponent to the ground with all her might. At the last second, Crystal grabbed Kat's head, sending both hurling to the floor. Crystal landed on her back while she made sure Kat took the full brunt of the impact with her skull.
The room fell into a dead silence as both fighters hit the ground and lay lifeless at the bottom of the cage.
Crystal rolled away, coughing as she tried to get air back in her lungs. Her opponent didn't move. Kat Slacovka had been knocked out cold.
The crowd went wild. Even after the ref raised Crystal's hand to announce the win, Kat's body still had not moved. The medic on the scene checked on Kat's passed out frame until finally, a very confused fighter came back into consciousness and was helped down from the ring.
Crystal stumbled down the stairs, still looking a bit punch drunk herself. Don helped her into a chair.
"Kid, you scared the hell out of me!" he barked at her.
"Scared me," Crystal wheezed, taking water as it was offered. She guzzled it down and broke into another coughing fit.
"And Crys goes for the win!" Jazz cheered as he approached her. "How does that feel?"
Unlike his usual actions of climbing all over her, he merely stood next to her, touching her knee; as if afraid that any further physical contact would break her.
"Ask me in a few minutes when I can breathe again," Crystal wheezed. "Don, I need an ice pack."
"Seriously kid, that was a one in a million shot. It was amazing," Don said after he had returned. "You should really consider-"
"Just get me my money," Crystal cut him off. "I need it now, I have to go."
"Sure kid. Right on that."
When Don left, Crystal handed the ice pack to Jazz. "Put it right here," she said, pointing between her shoulder blades.
Jazz pressed it to her back and she gasped at the cold and the pain. Jazz was about to remove it, but she insisted.
"Keep it there. My back feels like it's on fire."
At this point, the other Autobots had made their way back to her.
"Not bad for an amateur, kid" Ironhide said. "Ya got some potential there."
"Thanks!" Crystal gave a forced grin. "Maybe they'll take me seriously next time." She flinched again in pain.
"Sorry," Jazz said.
"Next time better not be for a while," Prowl said in his usual calm tone as he began to remove the gloves and tape from her left hand. "Going into a fight already damaged is never a good idea."
"No worries, I heal fast," Crystal assured him. "This will be gone in no time." She paused to count bodies. "I think we're missing one."
"Me Grimlock see fight!" a voice boomed as he pushed through the other Autobots. "Me Grimlock get front row seat! See you win!"
"Did you?" she laughed as she picked him up.
"Yes! Me Grimlock think you not so weak as me first think! You fight bigger than you and win! Me guess is okay you afraid of small things."
"Well I'm glad you think so. Pew!" Crystal held him out at arms length. "You smell like smokes and beer."
"Humans try to give me Grimlock 'weeds'. What me Grimlock need weeds for? Have weeds all over Ark outside. Never need to smoke them. Me Grimlock not see point."
"Me neither, Grim." Crystal flinched as she removed the tape from her right hand.
Prowl was instantly looking at it. "What happened? Does it hurt?"
Crystal pulled it back and gingerly rubbed her knuckles. "It's from when I punched Kat. That woman has a jaw like granite. It's probably just bruised."
Don returned with another man in a suit and slicked hair.
"This is Jimmy. He's handling the finances of Mr. Russo, the man who owns this place and is running the show."
"So am I getting my money?" Crystal asked, not in the mood for small talk.
Jimmy smoothed his hair. "Mr. Russo would like to speak with you about tonight's performance."
Neither Prowl nor Ironhide liked his tone. It didn't sound like a request. Crystal either didn't notice or didn't care.
"So do you have my money or what? I was told a thousand if I win."
Jimmy didn't look impressed but he produced a wad of cash. "Here's five hundred. You get the rest after you talk to my boss."
Crystal took it from him. "Don, can you spot me a hundred? I have to go get my car out of the shop like now before it closes."
Don didn't move and actually looked at Jimmy for permission which confused Crystal.
"I really think you should-"
"Look, I'm sorry, but I really have to go," Crystal cut Jimmy off. "It's very important that I get that car out tonight. Tomorrow the place will be closed. I can come back right afterward if you want or you can talk to Don about it. He usually set up my fights."
He gave the other man a pat on the back which Don returned without any good humor. He solemnly pulled a hundred dollars from his wallet.
"Thanks Don! Just take it out of the rest of my winnings," Crystal called as she herded the Autobots out of the building.
A half an hour later, Crystal was trying to get her mechanic to stop gawking at the robots and give her a total.
"So what do you keep them for exactly?" he asked as he poked Grimlock's dinosaur mode. "Like, what do they do? Are they like those digital pet things?" His name tag said "Reggie".
Grimlock growled and snapped at him.
"Stop doing that," Crystal told him. "They're not animals. Treat them like people."
"People?" Reggie argued. "You can't be suggesting they're like us. They're just machines. They're programed to act like people but it's not the same as being alive."
Jazz, who was sitting on Crystal's lap, got his audios covered by her hands.
"Reggie, they can hear you! Don't talk about them like they don't understand you!"
"Crystal," Wheeljack said, touching her knee. "If this guy hasn't fixed your car yet, I'll do it."
"Oh you hear that, Reggie? Wheeljack here can even do your job. And I doubt he'll charge me for labor."
Reggie managed to look offended. "Well the car is already done. And I usually make customers pay up front. I did you a favor you know."
Crystal smiled. "I know and I appreciate it. A lot."
"Hey, there's something going on out the window," Blaster announced. "Someone take me over there."
"The radio talks, too?" Reggie demanded.
Ironhide picked Blaster up and climbed onto the work bench near the window. Crystal followed and peered outside.
"Ooh, they started the fireworks." She picked up Grimlock and put him on the bench so he could see as well.
"Many explosion," the Dinobot commented. "Who they fire at?"
"I want to go watch," Crystal announced. "Hurry and ring me up, Reggie."
The mechanic grumbled as he processed her total.
"Go watch the fireworks, Prowl," Crystal urged to the white Autobot that was always in her shadow. He seemed to be watching her even closer since her fight. "Enjoy the beauty."
Prowl gazed over to where the other Autobots were ooing and awing out the window. He looked back up at her pragmatically. "It's fine. I don't need to see them."
Crystal pointed with finality. "I said ENJOY THE BEAUTY!"
Prowl made a sound something akin to a sigh. "Yes ma'am. Right away."
Reggie leveled a look at her as Prowl walked away. "That's seriously quite a litter. How long have you had them?"
"Almost a week. I need the car to get them home."
Reggie grinned as he printed her a receipt. "Are they driving you nuts?"
Crystal glanced backward to the group. "It's hard to get a moment to myself, but I'm sure I'm going to miss them when they're gone."
There was the buzz of engines overhead and the whole collection of Autobots sprang into action.
"Grab your keys, Crys, we've gotta go," Jazz insisted, pushing her calves to get her moving.
Prowl was leading the others outside.
Crystal shrugged at the mechanic. "Apparently I have to go. Thanks!"
She snatched her keys and pointed to a silver Corolla. Prowl and Jazz shared the front seat while the rest clamored into the back.
"Drive," Prowl told her.
Crystal started the car. "Where?"
Jazz looked as serious as Crystal had ever seen him. "That way."
She sped off in the direction indicated. It was dead silent in the car. All the Autobots were looking out of various windows for... something.
"What did you see?" Crystal asked in a soft voice.
"Seekers," was all Prowl said.
"They're searching for something," Jazz added. "Something close by."
Crystal's pocket buzzed as her cell phone went off and she dug for it while trying to drive.
"Hello?"
"Crystal, where are you?" Don's voice came over the line. "Are you coming back?"
"Sorry Don. It's taking longer than I thought, we-"
"They're circling!" Wheeljack announced.
"Crystal, turn left here! Quickly!" Prowl ordered.
She ran a red light, almost cutting off traffic in following Prowl's instructions. "Whoops! I hope no cops saw that!"
"Crystal, what are you doing?" Don continued over the phone. "I need you to come back. You don't understand what-"
"Turn right here," Prowl said.
"Sorry Don, I really gotta go. I'll call you back."
"Wait! Crys-"
She flipped off her phone and tossed it in the cup holder. The car swerved right and Crystal slammed on her breaks as a tall, slatted fence blocked her path. All four doors opened as everyone got out, searching the skies. Crystal wasn't exactly sure what they were looking for, but she could still hear the jet engines over head.
"Those seekers are hunting for something," Prowl said.
"Three guesses what it is," Jazz chimed in. "And the first two don't count."
"If Prime's out there, we gotta find him first," Ironhide told them. "Even if they are bigger than us, we can't let him fight alone."
"Agreed," Prowl nodded. "We're going to roll out, Autobots. Grimlock, as much as we may need you, you won't be able to keep up with us. You'll stay will Crystal and Blaster."
The Dinobot huffed loudly, arms folded. He was obviously not happy, but he couldn't argue Prowl's logic either.
"Is there a way I can track you?" Crystal asked. "Then I could at least be near by with the car; Grimlock, too."
"Hey, hey!" came Blaster's voice from the car. "I've got an idea. Jazz, c'mere." As attention turned to him, Blaster continued. "Crystal's cell phone. If you stayed connected to it, I can connect to it, too, and know your position. It will be filtered through the phone company's network so the Decepticons won't know it's our signal."
Jazz snapped his fingers. "It will just look like a normal phone call! Blaster, you're beautiful, man."
"Woah Jazz, let's not get carried away now. The Blaster saves it all for the ladies."
"We're wasting time! Let's get going!" Ironhide urged.
Crystal was already by the fence, squatting with her hands clasped together. Wheeljack stepped on her palms and she lifted him to the top of the fence.
"Be careful," she said as she did the same for Prowl.
"Don't get too close," he instructed her. "Those planes are deadly. If you run into anything dangerous you let Grimlock handle it." As he hung from the top of the fence he added. "Don't get involved in this, I mean it."
"Yes, sir! Right away!"
"You know he only says that cuz he loves you," Jazz grinned as he was lifted over.
"JAZZ!" came a sharp bark from the other side and Jazz quickly jumped down.
Ironhide was the last one up.
"Quite a night for taking chances," Crystal remarked.
Ironhide paused at the top of the fence. Fireworks exploded in the sky behind him.
"Sure is," he grinned.
Then he was gone. Crystal heard the four Autobots transform and drive away. Then she got in her car and reached for her cell phone. It rang right away. Crystal frowned when she saw who it was on her caller ID.
"Don, not now," she told the phone and ended the call without answering it.
The phone rang again. This time it was Jazz. Crystal handed the phone to Grimlock as she backed out onto the road.
"It's do or die time now, Grim."
"It no big deal," Grimlock assured her. "Just like last time. Crystal fight bit opponent. Crystal win."
She shook her head as she waited for Blaster's directions. "Boy I hope so."